Bullie Sibanda runs onto the ball with James McConnachie providing support.
The Rangers defensive line (Hayden, Pullen and Bauman, from left) defend against a Viet Portland attack while the midfielders race back for support.
The second week of the Fall 2007 O-30, Third Division campaign found the Rangers taking the field against Viet Portland at the Montessori Earth School. A light drizzle and leaden skies kept the grounds cool and slick, in marked contrast to the previous week's soaring temperatures. Boasting a comfortable compliment of fifteen players--remember when we could barely field a full eleven? Ah, good times--the team lined up for the traditional team photo in fine spirits and was backed by a good crowd of about a dozen pro-FC77 supporters. Our previous match-up against Viet in the fall of 2006 resulted in a 2-5 loss and 'Gers anticipated an energetic, fluid opponent...but was oddly surprised with the slow start to the game. Not the on-field action, mind you. Despite having approximately 30 players, Viet took an excessively long time to put up the nets, get a game ball, change out of their all-too-similar yellow strip, etc. When referee Joe Pardo blew the whistle to start the game, ten minutes had already passed.
With the kick-off came the quick, mobile play the Rangers had anticipated. Playing what appeared to be a 2-6-2, Viet marched the ball down the field and found the net within the first ten minutes. Discouraging, yes. Deflating? Not with this team, buddy. Discovering that Viet's Achilles heel was their reluctance to play defense, 'Gers got behind their back line and attacked hard from the right side. Aaron Radigan's aggro header took a deflection off the Viet goalkeeper (maybe a defender--I couldn't tell) and landed at Jim Snyder's feet, who finished the tough offensive series but putting it in the back of the net to equalize approximately five minutes after the first goal. With the tie, the two teams battled evenly for the rest of the shortened first half. Brian Bauman and Jay Abramowitz played enforcer and kept many Viet runs at bay with crunching tackles and forceful shoulder charges. Keeper Steve Berg was again everywhere between the posts, picking up at least a half dozen saves before half-time.
The second half looked promising and around the 55th minute, Mark Vogel soft-shoed through the left side of the Viet defense, stayed on his feet despite several stabs in their box, and laid the ball off to James McConnachie, who obliged with a wicked kill shot into the net. For the first time in 145 minutes, Rangers had a lead. Pressing on for a third, striker Ron King was unfairly called for offsides a couple of times. Against the run of play, Viet Portland broke through the middle, caught Steve Berg one on one, and equalized around the 70th minute. Another goal followed on a similar breakaway ten minutes later. Tensions started to rise as both squads scrapped for possession in the closing minutes and the referee was forced to book one of the Viet players for dissent...with a green card. Maybe he meant to reach for a yellow card. Maybe there is some new football law I'm not familiar with...whatever. With the Rangers winning a corner kick in the 90th minute, manager Sean Ingersoll screamed for the entire team to push forward for a last ditch effort. Pushing ten men into a potential scoring position for the last kick, Viet deflected the ball out of bounds--didn't look like they were ten yards away from our sideline--and Pardo blew the match over.
While not quite getting the win, Rangers certainly improved over last year's performance and, with a little bit of luck, might have salvaged a point. Ethan Snyder returned as Junior Ranger along with Kendall Ingersoll who, despite being on crutches, also served as match photographer.
Sean Ingersoll
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